James G. Neeley

Commissioner Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development

Governor Phil Bredesen appointed James G. Neeley Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development when he took office in 2003. Commissioner Neeley has extensive knowledge of state regulations in Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, Safety and Workforce Development.

Neeley is also a key player in the Governor’s Jobs Cabinet. He traveled across the state with Governor Bredesen for a series of roundtable meetings with local business, government and workers to develop ways to bring new business to Tennessee.

In 2004, Neeley won the prestigious Eagle Award from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. The Award honors individuals who soar to new heights in their efforts to serve employers and workers in the United States.

In 2005, Neeley was honored with another prestigious award nominated by the Tennessee Department of Education. He received the Distinguished Service Individual Award from the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. Neeley received the award for his decades of service to improve opportunities for all Tennesseans including his service on the executive committee for Education Edge.

In 2006, Neeley was named Carroll Countain of the Year by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, and in 2007, he was honored as the Fred Harris Professional of the Year by the Tennessee Industrial Development Council.

Throughout his career he has served on various state, federal, local and regional boards and commissions. Commissioner Neeley resides in Huntingdon, Tennessee, with his wife, Rachel. He enjoys spending time with his granddaughters, Neeley and Mary Catherine, and their parents, Hope and Michael Turner.